Friday, July 19, 2013

Is Happiness Truly Attainable?



I had a great conversation with a friend of mine this week.  The future, the present, and our station in life continued to be a theme as we worked through to solve all the world’s problems (in our minds, anyway).  The discussion continued to come back  to a philosophy of being satisfied and being fully “present” versus being overly focused on a past or future situation.  I was reminded of this quote that bears pondering this weekend:

If you would attain to what you are not yet, you must always be displeased by what you are.  For where you are pleased with yourself there you have remained.  Keep adding, keep walking, keep advancing.  ~Saint Augustine

Progress always comes from displeasure and dissatisfaction.  Conversely, happiness seems to emanate from satisfaction and acceptance.  Progress and happiness, then, on the surface, can never seem to coexist for long.  One must give way to the other.  Unless, perhaps, we can be happy in the PROCESS of progress, and dissatisfaction in the PRODUCT.  Perhaps, only then, can we improve, move forward, achieve our results and still be happy?  


Something to think about.  And even disagree with!

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